Liquid atomizing devices

ABSTRACT

A liquid atomizing device which can be inserted into an air tube within a ring of air swirler blade includes a first tubular body having an outwardly flared open end. A second tubular body is located in the first tubular body so as to form an intermediate air passage. A shell member attached to the second tubular body is disposed within the outwardly flared end and has an outwardly flared frusto-conical portion. The shell member has an inwardly directed annular lip upstream of the frusto-conical portion. An end wall of the second tubular body has a series of inclined nozzle openings therein to direct liquid passing therethrough onto the shell member. The liquid passes around the annular lip and mixes with air from the air passage downstream of the frustoconical portion.

United States Patent [191 Gardner Mar. 26, 1974 [54] LIQUID ATOMIZING DEVICES 3.024,045 3/1962 Cleminshaw et al 239/404 X 75 l t Sta I F k G dn 1 nven or g zg ran ar Bum ey Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar

[73] Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Limited,

Birmingham, England [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1972 A liquid atomizing device which can be inserted into Appl. No.: 303,118

an air tube within a ring of air swirler blade includes a first tubular body having an outwardly flared open end. A second tubular body is located in the first tubular body so as to form an intermediate air passage. A shell member attached to the second tubular body is disposed within the outwardly flared end and has an outwardly flared frusto-conical portion. The shell member has an inwardly directed annular lip upstream of the frusto-conical portion. An end wall of the second tubular body has a series of inclined nozzle openings therein to direct liquid passing therethrough onto the shell member. The liquid passes around the annular lip and mixes with air from the air passage downstream of the frusto-conical portion.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing lFigure LIQUID ATOMIZING DEVICES This invention relates to liquid atomising devices, particularly though not exclusively intended for use in the burners of gas turbine engines.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid atomizing device comprising a first tubular body having an outwardly flared, open end, a second tubular body disposed within the first tubular body so as to define an air passage therebetween, and a shell member having an outwardly flared frusto-conical portion disposed within the outwardly flared end of the first tubular body so as to define therebetween an outwardly flared, air exit passage, the second tubular body having an end wall adjacent the outwardly flared end of the first tubular body, said wall having a plurality of orifices therethrough to provide communication between the inside of the second tubular body and the inside of the shell member, said orifices being angled so that, in use, liquid ejected from the second tubular body impinges against the internal surface of the shell member and is mixed with the air beyond the frustoconical portion.

Preferably, the exits of the orifices are angularly displaced relative to the entries so that, in use, a rotary movement is imparted to the liquid ejected from the orifices.

Most advantageously, an internal annular lip is formed on the shell member opposite the orifices so that liquid impinging against the shell member is directed inwardly before reaching the outwardly flared portion of the shell member. Preferably also, the first tubular body is provided with an internal annular shoulder upstream of the outwardly flared, open end thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal section of part of a liquid atmoiser according to the present invention.

The liquid atomiser according to the present invention is for a gas turbine engine and is adapted to be disposed inside a ring of air swirler blades in a tubular body which is open at both ends and through which air passes.

Referring now to the drawing, the liquid atomizer comprises a first tubular body 1 having an open end 2 which is outwardly flared and an internal, integral annular shoulder 3 upstream of the end 2.

Disposed within the first tubular body 1 is a second tubular body 4 having an end wall 5 formed with a series of orifices 6 (only one shown) therethrough. Each orifice 6 has an exit opening which is disposed further away from the axis of the body 4 than the entry opening of the orifice 6. The exit openings are disposed in an annular chamfered portion 7 of the body 4 and each exit opening is angularly displaced about the axis of the body 4 relative to the corresponding entry opening of the orifice 6.

Disposed around the second tubular body 4, but within the first tubular body 1, is a shell member 8 which is welded to the second tubular body 4 at 9. The shell member 8 has an outwardly flared frusto-conical portion 10 disposed within the outwardly flared end 2 of the first tubular body 1 so as to define an exit passage for air which communicates with the passage defined between the two tubular bodies Il and 4. Just beyond the end wall 5 of the tubular body 4, the shell member 8 is provided with an internal, annular lip 11 which is upstream of the flared portion 10 but downstream of the end wall 5 so as to define a chamber 12 between the lip 11 and the end wall 5.

In use, air flows through the annular passage defined between the bodies 1 and 4 to be ejected from the atomiser through the exit air cone. Simultaneously, liquid fuel is fed through the second tubular body 4 and passes through the orifices 6 in the end wall 5 to enter chamber 12. Due to the disposition of the orifices 6 into the chamber 12, a rotary motion is imparted to the liquid as it emerges from the orifices 6 and the liquid is also caused to impinge against the shell member 8. The liquid fuel is then directed inwardly around the annular lip 11 and then enters the frusto-conical portion 10. On leaving the frusto-conical portion 10 the liquid fuel is mixed with the air to form a cone of fuel/air mixture, the cone angle of which is substantially constant.

It will be manifest that fuel is introduced into the air in a manner which causes a minimum restriction to the air flow, but in spite of this atomisation is quite efficient.

I claim:

1. A liquid atomizing device comprising a first tubular body having an outwardly flared open end, a second tubular body disposed within said first tubular body so as to define an air passage therebetween, and a shell member secured on said second tubular body and having an outwardly flared frusto-conical portion disposed within said outwardly flared open end of said first tubular body so as to define therebe'tween an outwardly flared, air exit passage, said second tubular body having an end wall adjacent said outwardly flared open end of said first tubular body, said shell member having an inwardly directed annular lip disposed upstream of said outwardly flared frusto-conical portion and downstream of said end wall to define a chamber between said lip and said end wall, said end wall having a plurality of orifices there through to provide communication between the inside of said second tubular body and said chamber internally of said shell member, said orifices having exits which are angularly displaced relative to respective entries of said orifices so that, in use, a rotary movement is imparted to the liquid ejected from said orifices, said orifices also being angled so that, in use, liquid ejected from said second tubular body impinges against the internal surface of said shell member within said chamber and is then directed inwardly by said lip before reaching said frusto-conical portion be yond which it is mixed with the air issuing from said air passage.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first tubular body is provided with an internal annular shoulder upstream of said outwardly flared, open end thereof.

3. The device according to claim 1, adapted to be disposed inside a ring of air swirler blades in a tubular body which is open at both ends and through which, in

use, aid passes. 

1. A liquid atomizing device comprising a first tubular body having an outwardly flared open end, a second tubular body disposed within said first tubular body so as to define an air passage therebetween, and a shell member secured on said second tubular body and having an outwardly flared frusto-conical portion disposed within said outwardly flared open end of said first tubular body so as to define therebetween an outwardly flared, air exit passage, said second tubular body having an end wall adjacent said outwardly flared open end of said first tubular body, said shell member having an inwardly directed annular lip disposed upstream of said outwardly flared frustoconical portion and downstream of said end wall to define a chamber between said lip and said end wall, said end wall having a plurality of orifices there through to provide communication between the inside of said second tubular body and said chamber internally of said shell member, said orifices having exits which are angularly displaced relative to respective entries of said orifices so that, in use, a rotary movement is imparted to the liquid ejected from said orifices, said orifices also being angled so that, in use, liquid ejected from said second tubular body impinges against the internal surface of said shell member within said chamber and is then directed inwardly by said lip before reaching said frusto-conical portion beyond which it is mixed with the air issuing from said air passage.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first tubular body is provided with an internal annular shoulder upstream of said outwardly flared, open end thereof.
 3. The device according to claim 1, adapted to be disposed inside a ring of air swirler blades in a tubular body which is open at both ends and through which, in use, aid passes. 